The Alarm is Off

by Srishti from Savda Ghevra Colony, Delhi

I work till late into the night. Yet one has to wait for the husband to return from work. My daily routine has an unending string of tasks-cleaning and tidying the small little room after the children have messed it up, putting away the beddings, preparing food for breakfast, lunch and dinner and serving everyone, washing the dishes, then planning for breakfast and lunch for the day after. Lot of these things are done in the evening, when I return from work. By the time I hit the pillow it is 11.30-12 midnight. Then catching the 5a.m. bus to reach my place of work is important to keep the wheels of life moving. A good sleep is important, but if I sleep more then I am late for work and it will be counted as leave! My mistress has given me a Nokia mobile phone so that I can put an alarm and get up early.

I leave for work while my husband and children are still asleep, cook breakfast and lunch for everyone, put my tiffin in the bag on my shoulder and rush out on the deserted street. Clutching the mobile in the fist I walk fast towards the bus stand fearing that I might miss the bus. One has to go from one end of the city to the other. I am not the only one rushing like that. There are several others too. Seeing them I steady myself. All of us are together till the square. Once the bus arrives everybody starts running. As soon as it stops there is a scramble for seats. People try to reserve a seat by placing the bag or the ‘pallu’(front end) of the saree on it.

Getting a seat seems like the greatest relief of life. It means a good sleep. All of us call it ‘the travel-sleep.’ Clutching the bag as if it is a child in the lap and sleeping or pretending to be asleep has become a habit now. The fear is that someone may request for a little corner of your seat if you are awake. If there has been a tiff in the family I cannot sleep properly. Then I badger the ears of Kanta sitting next to me. She is my best friend. She also works like me as household help in ‘kothis’(bunglows). She is the one who got me this job. I get paid Rs.7000 p.m. which is inadequate. But it does provide much needed money and I get it on time.

My mistress is a lawyer. I have to reach her house by 7 a.m.. So I can reach on time only if I catch the 5 a.m. bus. I cook her breakfast, take care  of her small child and I keep doing household chores till the evening. She comes around 4p.m. We catch bus no. 949A at Luxminagar bus stand where all passengers are bound for Savda colony. People wait for each other. The bus driver also knows that he has to stop here. Generally everybody’s seat is fixed. Sometimes if one’s seat is taken, legs have to face the misfortune. In that case I keep my bag in Kanta’s lap, take out the earphones and listen to songs. If I feel like it I tell Kanta stories of the pranks that children of my mistress play or things about my husband and children. The day we get our salary we get down at Nangloi, buy something nice for the children to eat and take the next bus home.

Kanta is older than me, she is 55.She cannot run, I can run, I can help her. She has been working in the same household for the last 30 years. She has helped many women like me to find work in that area. Her son and daughter do not take her responsibility. Her husband suffering from breathing problems, passed away sometime back. Now, Kanta herself does not keep well. But despite this she does not leave the job. Seeing her I do not lose courage. And my husband does not mind my work. My earning does help in running the household. 

Like any other day, we reached the square early morning that day. The bus had not come. People were restless. An hour passed…two hours went by…no sign of the bus. By now we used to ring the call bell of our mistress’s house. I had to phone her today: ”Our Savda-bus has not come today. I can’t come, tell me what should I so.” She told me: “Didn’t you see the news last evening? For the next 20 days there is a lockdown in place. You go home, I also have to stay home. No one can go out anywhere, everybody has to stay home.” I couldn’t make any head or tail out of this but was happy that I can stay home. When I reached home I found it was not just me, people of the entire colony had come back home by 7a.m.

Because of the lockdown I saw sunrise in my neighbourhood after many months. Sun was shining on the terrace. I cleaned the kitchen thoroughly and took out everything that needed to be sunned and with the help of the children took them to the terrace. It was one year since I had been on the terrace. I cleaned the terrace. A huge pile of garbage had collected. When I came down I saw my husband glued to the T.V.-news. Whole of India had been put under lockdown to prevent the spread of Corona. Everything has been closed-trains, buses, vehicles of all sizes and shapes, schools, colleges, even local markets. 

The topic of discussion in the neighbourhood was the lockdown. People felt it gave a good  opportunity to stay home together with the family. This euphoria lasted only till the evening. During the day children had brought the roof down with their mischief. I brought the kitchen items from the terrace. For the first time I saw the colony from the terrace today, also Kanta’s house in the back-lane. She doesn’t have a terrace, she was sitting on the doorstep. The whole colony was enjoying their time and their food.

Very soon the government put in place new rules and regulations. The entire colony was sealed. The police started doing the rounds to check if rules were being followed. Getting out in one’s own lane became problematic. The summer-heat made life difficult for everybody. Thankfully, the Delhi Jal Board had started supplying water recently and  Delhi Govt. was giving free electricity. This gave a lot of freedom to spend one’s time with ease. Every day there was the announcement of a new rule on the T.V.--something will be closed today, something tomorrow. One got tired listening to these. Everybody had gotten addicted to watching T.V. and demanding to eat something or the other all the time. My mistress had not phoned till today. There was suffocation in the 12 by 12 room due to the noise and heat.

I took my phone and went on the terrace. There was hardly any wind but a lot of humidity. Kanta’s doors were closed. May be she was asleep. Afterall what can one do in this situation. I rang my mistress. I was calling her after a fortnight. She picked up the phone at the first ring. She started lecturing me at length, ”Do not go out of the house, do not meet people, Corona is spreading fast, stay at home. I am also staying home, no one can travel till the lockdown is over. I will myself phone you once this ends. Don’t worry.” I replied, ”No madam, what is the point in worrying. Ours is a small room. The terrace is open to the sky and it is very hot these days.”

She said, ”Well you have to bear it somehow.” And the line was disconnected. From downstairs I heard my husband shouting, “Come, come, look what the kids are doing, fighting over the remote.” I snapped back in anger, “Instead of calling me why can’t you take care of it?” He said ”You know, I can’t manage this.” I went down, shut off the T.V. and took away the remote from the children. That’s it. They had their dinner after a while. As soon as they saw me going for my bath they put the T.V. on.I was fed up with the noise of the T.V. Whenever I got the opportunity I went up to the terrace. I tried talking to Kanta. But she has become hard of hearing. All the time she went on repeating, “What did you say….?”

Nowadays there is neither the need to think and plan in the evenings nor the need to get up early. The alarm is no longer needed. It hasn’t rung for several months now. We had to change our lifestyle. Money is getting exhausted, tension for ration is growing. My husband just lies around in the house. If he goes out the police beat him. There is a little concession of time to go out and buy milk and food. Days are passing just like this…

Srishti is in 8th grade and is a member of Ankur. She lives in Savda Ghevra.

This text was translated into English by Jayawati Shrivastava (Jaya), the former director of Ankur—Society for Alternatives in Education.

Rooftops of Saved Ghevra Colony

Original Hindi text:

अलार्म बंद हैं

@सृष्टि

 देर रात तक खुद काम कर पति के काम से लौट आने का इंतज़ार भी करना होता था। एक छोटे से कमरे में बच्चों की दिनभर की धमाचौकड़ी के बाद बिखरेबिस्तर सँभालना, जूठे बर्तन धोना और फिर से ताजा खाना बनाकर सबको खिलाना, दुबारा बर्तन आदि साफ करना–यह मेरे डेली के रूटीन में शामिल है।  सुबहनाश्ते में क्या बनना है? लंच का निर्णय करना और रात खत्म होने से पहले सोच लेना कल के लिए– यह सब निपटा कर ही ग्यारह से बारह के बीच सोने जाती।सुबह पाँच बजे वाली बस पकड़ना ज़िंदगी को चलते रहने के लिए ज़रूरी था। सोना भी ज़िंदगी का अहम हिस्सा है नींद पूरी नहीं तो समझो कल की छुट्टी।मालकिन के द्वारा दिया गया नोकिया का फोन जिसमें अलार्म भरकर सोती वह भी सुबह जल्दी उठने के लिए।   मोबाइल में अलार्म भरना और बंद करना भी मेराही काम था।

सुबह का नाश्ता और लंच बनाकर पति बच्चो को सोता छोड़ मोहल्ले की सूनी गली से निकलती। दोपहर का अपना लंच बैग मे रख, कंधे पर लटकाए हुए, कीपैड मोबाइल को मुट्ठी में भीचे हुए बस स्टैंड की तरफ सरपट भागती। कहीं बस न निकल जाए, शहर के इस कोने से उस कोने जाना पड़ता, गली में कहीं-कहींमेरी जैसी हैं और काम करनेवाली किसी और गली से गुजरती हुई दिखाई देती थी।  उन्हें देख कदम में थोड़ी स्थिरता आ जाती। बस अभी आई नहीं है। कभी वहमुझसे आगे होती कभी मैं उनसे आगे होती। चौक तक हम सबको पहुँचना होता, बस के आते ही सिर्फ़ मैं ही नहीं भागती सीट के लिए बल्कि सभी भागते। बसके रुकने के साथ ही सभी धक्का मुक्की कर कभी अपना बैग तो कभी अपनी साड़ी का पल्लू ही सीट पर रख देते। यह सिर्फ मेरा ही काम नहीं था, सभी का था।

सीट मिलने पर लगता ज़िंदगी का सबसे बड़ा सुकून मिल गया है।सीट मिलने का मतलब था कि एक नींद पूरी हो जाना। इसे हम सब सफर वाली नींद कहते थे।मेरी ही तरह उस बस में सभी का हाल था।  बैग, थैला को गोदी में एक बच्चे की तरह भीचे हुए नींद आए तो सो जाना वर्ना सोने का बहाना करना आदत मेंशामिल था।  कोई यह न कह दे बहन मुझे भी अपनी सीट में एक कोना दे दो। अगर कभी घर में अनबन भी हो जाती तो नींद पूरी नहीं होती तो बगल वालीकांता का कान खा जाती वह भी मेरी तरह कोठियों में काम करती है। वह मेरी सबसे पक्की दोस्त है। उसने ही मुझे काम पर  लगाया था। मेरी मालकिन वकीलहैं। वह रोज  कड़कड़डूमा कोर्ट जाती थीं। मुझे उनके घर सुबह सात बजे पहुँचना होता था, और इसी पाँच बजे वाली बस से पहुँच पाती थी । उनका नाश्ताबनाना और उनके छोटे से बच्चे की देख रेख करना मेरा काम था। दिन भर उनके घर का काम भी निपटाती रहती थी। इस काम के मुझे महीने के सात हजारमिलते थे। यह पैसे बहुत थोड़े थे, पर सुकून के थे। समय से पैसा मिल जाता था। घर का खर्चा इससे चल जाता था।

मालकिन चार बजे के आस-पास आ जातीं थी।  शाम को लक्ष्मी नगर से 949A नंबर की बस पकड़ने के लिए बस स्टैंड आती, जहाँ सभी सावदा कॉलोनी कीसवारी होती, सभी एक-दूसरे का इंतजार करते थे। बस वाला भी जानता था कि इस स्टैंड पर तो रुकना ही रुकना है। अमूमन सभी की सीटें फिक्स थीं। कभी-कभी सीट हाथ से निकल जाती तो समझो पैरों की शामत आ जाती। वैसा होने पर  बैग कांता की गोद में रख, लीड निकाल कर कान में फसा कर गाना सुनतीरहती। अगर मन सही होता तो कांता से अपनी मालकिन के बच्चे की सारी हरकतें सुनाती तो कभी अपने पति बच्चों की बातें बताती। जिस दिन पगार मिलताउस दिन हम दोनों नागलोई ही उतर जाते।  बच्चों के लिए कुछ अच्छा खाने के लिए लेकर फिर दूसरी बस से घर जाते।

कांता मुझसे उम्र में बड़ी थीं, वह दौड़ नहीं सकती थीं। उनकी उम्र 55 साल थी। मैं अभी भाग सकती थी, उनकी मदद कर सकती थी। वह इस काम को पिछले30 सालों से एक ही मालिक के घर में करती आ रही हैं। उस काम वाले इलाके में इन्होने हम जैसी बहुत-सी महिलाओं को काम दिलवाया था। इनकीज़िम्मेदारी इनके बच्चे बहू नहीं उठाते, इनके पति साँस के मरीज थे और इस दुनिया में नहीं हैं। अब यह भी बीमार-सी रहने लगी हैं। इसके बावजूद काम छोड़तीनहीं, इनकी वजह से मेरी हिम्मत बनी रहती है। इतनी दूर काम करने जाने के लिए पति भी कुछ नहीं बोलते घर तो चल रहा है।

रोज की तरह हम दोनों सुबह चौक पहुँचे। बस अभी आई नहीं थी। सब लोग बेचैन थे कि बस नहीं आ रही है। एक घंटे गुजर गए दो घंटे भी गुजर गए बस आईनहीं। अब तक तो हम लोग मालकिन के घर की बेल बजा देते थे। आज फोन करना पड़ा मालकिन हमारी सावदा वाली बस नहीं आई, हम आज नहीं आ सकतेबोलो क्या करें? उन्होंने हमें बताया शाम का समाचार नहीं देखा क्या ? आज से 20 दिन के लिए लॉक डाउन लग गया है। तुम घर जाओ, मैं भी घर ही रहूँगी,कोई कहीं नहीं जाएगा सबको घर में ही रहना है। बात तो पल्ले नहीं पड़ी, पर एक खुशी मिली कि घर में ही रहना है। घर वापस आई एक मैं ही नहीं थी,पूरीकॉलोनी के लोग सात बजे तक अपने-अपने घर को लौट आए।

लॉक डाउन केचलते  कई महीनों बाद पड़ोस में सूरज को निकलते हुए देखा था, छत पर धूप थी। किचन की साफ़-सफाई कर जो भी चीज धूप में सुखाने वालीथी उन सबको बच्चों के साथ मिलकर धूप दिखाने के लिए छत पर ले गए। छत पर गए एक साल से ऊपर हो गए थे। छत साफ किया। ढेर सारा कचड़ानिकला। साफ कर जब नीचे आई तो देखा वह टीवी पर नज़र गड़ाए न्यूज देख रहे हैं। कोरोना को फैलने से रोकने के लिए पूरे भारत  में लॉकडाउन लगा दियागया है। सब कुछ बंद– रेल, बस के साथ छोटी मोटी सभी गाड़ी, और स्कूल, कालेज, हॉट बाजार तक।

पड़ोस में चर्चा चल रही थी कि चलो अच्छा हुआ इसके बहाने  घर में रहने का मौका दिया है। सब लोग एक साथ रहेंगे यह खुशी शाम तक के ही लिए थी। दिनभर बच्चों ने घर, सर पर उठा लिया था। किचन का सारा सामान ऊपर से नीचे लाए. आज छत से अपनी कॉलोनी को देखा था। छत से पहली बार कांता कीगली देखा था वह मेरे पीछे वाली गली मे रहती हैं। उनके पास छत नहीं वह अपने बिना छत वाली घर की चौखट में बैठी थीं। सारा पड़ोस खुशी से खा-पी रहाथा लेकिन देखते-देखते सरकार ने अपना नया-नया नियम लाकर पूरी कॉलोनी को सील सा कर दिया। पुलिस टहलने लगी यहाँ तक की गली में निकलनामुश्किल हो रहा। गर्मी से सभी बेहाल थे। यह तो अच्छा था सावदा में हाल ही में दिल्ली जल बोर्ड का सप्लाई वाला पानी आने लगा था। पानी और बिजली केबिल की आजादी के कारण दिन कट रहे थे।

न्यूज में रोज एक नया नियम सुनने को मिलता कि आज से यह बंद, कल से वह बंद–यह सुन सुन कर कान पक गए थे। पूरे घर को टीवी देखने की बीमारी-सीलग गई थी। सभी दिनभर कुछ न कुछ खाने की फर्माइस करते रहते। तब से अब तक मालकिन का भी फोन नहीं आया था। 12 मीटर के कमरे में शोर और गर्मीके बीच मन घुटने लगता। मैंने अपना फोन लिया और छत पर चली गई। हवा कम उमस ज्यादा थी। कांता का भी दरवाजा बंद था। वह सो रही होंगी, ऐसे वहकरतीं भी क्या? मालकिन को करीब 15 दिन बाद फोन लगाया तो उन्होंने एक ही रिंग में फ़ोन उठा लिया। और लग गईं मुझे समझाने कि घर से बाहर मतनिकलना किसी से मिलना नहीं कोरोना बीमारी बढ़ रही है। घर में ही रहना मैं भी घर में ही हूँ। लॉकडाउन खत्म होने से पहले कोई कहीं नहीं जा-आ सकता है।

जब लॉकडाउन खुलेगा तो मै तुम्हेंं खुद फ़ोन करूँगी, तुम परेशान मत होना।

 परेशान क्या होना मैडम हमारा तो घर ही छोटा है? ऊपर की छत भी खुली है छाया तक नहीं है। गर्मी भी बहुत लगती है।

 वह बोलीं–' काटो जैसे भी काटो।'

 मैडम दिन तो काटना ही है।

फोन कट गया। नीचे वह चिल्लाने लगे थे अरे! इन्हे देख आ के रिमोट लेकर लड़ रहे हैं। मैंने गुस्से में कहा–'आप देख लो ना मुझे क्यों पुकारते हो।' वे बोले–'यहमेरे बस का नहीं।' यह सुनकर मै नीचे जाकर सबसे पहले टीवी का बटन ही बंद कर दिया और रिमोट छीन कर अलग रख दिया। बस कुछ देर बाद ही  वह दोनोंखाना खाए और मेरे नहाने जाते देख टीवी फिर से ऑन कर दिया। जितनी बार मैं बंद करती उसके बाद शोर से तंग आ जाती थी। जब भी मौका मिलता मैं छतपर ही चली जाती। कांता से बात करती। लेकिन उन्हें भी कुछ सुनाई नहीं देता थि वह बस यही कहती रहतीं–'क्या कहा...?'

अब तो न शाम को सोचने की जरूरत न सुबह जल्दी उठने की जरूरत। अब अलार्म की जरूरत ही नहीं रह गई थी, वह महीनो से बजी नहीं थी। अब रहन-सहन मेकाफी फर्क आ गया था। पैसे भी खत्म हो रहे थे और राशन का टेंशन भी सताने लगा था। वह भी घर में पड़े रहते बाहर निकले तो पुलिस का डंडा। अब तो दूसरीवाली पुलिस भी लगा दिया था बस कुछ देर के लिए छूट मिलती दूध ले आओ पैसा है तो राशन भी दुकान से ले आओ। बाकी कुछ नहीं। ऐसे ही दिन बीत रहेथे।   

सृष्टि , आठवीं की छात्र हैं। अंकुर क्लब की नियमित रियाज़कर्ता हैं। सावदा घेवरा में रहती हैं।